The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator, has admitted that public frustration over poor telecom services across the country is rising, while assuring subscribers that concrete measures are being taken to improve network performance.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnena Ukoha, the NCC acknowledged that consumers are still grappling with dropped calls, slow internet connectivity, unstable data services and other disruptions that continue to affect daily communication and productivity.
The Commission emphasised that telecommunications have become indispensable to modern life, supporting business operations, education, healthcare delivery and social interaction, and noted that Nigerians deserve dependable services that reflect the value of their investments.
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According to the NCC, improving Quality of Service has remained one of its top regulatory priorities over the past two years. The Commission said it has stepped up monitoring of Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers and Tower Companies, while deepening regulatory oversight and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to address longstanding structural challenges affecting service delivery.
The Commission further disclosed that the sector is currently witnessing one of its most extensive network expansion and modernisation programmes in recent years, following a prolonged period of under-investment. It added that in 2025 alone, operators in the mobile telecommunications sector committed over N2.13 trillion to infrastructure development aimed at strengthening network capacity and improving service quality nationwide.
upgrades, while Tower Companies committed an additional N373.8 billion to support the expansion. The investments led to the addition and upgrade of over 2,800 telecommunications sites nationwide.
The NCC said the interventions included the deployment of faster 4G and 5G technologies, expansion of fibre infrastructure, improved network resilience, targeted upgrades in high-demand urban areas and expansion into underserved communities.
The Commission added that the expansion continued in 2026, with commitments secured for the addition and upgrade of more than 12,000 sites this year, nearly 3,000 of which have already been completed. It also disclosed that over 730 new 5G sites had been deployed across 27 states in 2026.
The regulator further stated that it had facilitated the reallocation of underutilised radio spectrum among major operators to improve network efficiency, capacity and overall service performance.
According to the NCC’s Quality of Service assessments, there have been gradual improvements in network coverage, capacity and internet download speeds across several parts of the country. It said 4G penetration rose from 45 per cent in January 2024 to 54 per cent currently, while national median download speeds increased from 16.5Mbps to 20Mbps within the same period.
Despite the improvements, the Commission maintained that service quality must improve further, particularly in areas still affected by poor call quality, congestion, slow internet speeds and unstable connections.
The NCC also identified major external threats affecting network performance, including vandalism, fibre cuts, power disruptions and restricted access to telecommunications infrastructure.
It revealed that more than 27,000 avoidable fibre-cut incidents linked mainly to road construction activities and vandalism were recorded nationwide in 2025, significantly affecting network availability and consumer experience.
The Commission said it was working with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to enforce the Presidential Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure and tackle the theft and vandalism of telecommunications equipment.
To improve transparency, the NCC directed operators to promptly notify consumers whenever major service outages occur and restore services within specified timeframes.
The Commission warned that enforcement actions against operators failing to deliver measurable improvements would continue under the updated Quality of Service Regulations 2024, including consumer compensation and additional investment obligations where necessary.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Nigerians enjoy reliable, affordable and high-quality telecommunications services, insisting that the industry must now deliver measurable improvements in the interest of consumers and the wider economy.
